After going to many shops that dissappointed my wife and I, we found this shop and have had all our work done here. They are fast and do a great job. Always honest and work with me in many ways to get the job done right.

Loudoun Auto Repair Blog

Repair facilities in the AAA Approved Auto Repair program have been inspected and certified by AAA to meet stringent quality standards in the areas of: community reputation, facility appearance, customer service, staff qualifications and training of auto mechanics, and tools and equipment.

Summer traveling by car can often mean heat, heavy traffic, poor weather created driving conditions, and at times sitting in stalled traffic. Before departing on summer trips the thought of whether the car is ready usually crosses our minds.

In just a few minutes you can determine if your car is ready for long-distance travel.

Here is a pre-trip checklist that will only take a few minutes.

Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering and brake and transmission. Be sure to also check the antifreeze/coolant and windshield washer fluid levels. Make sure your windshield wipers are not cracked or worn.

Check hoses and belts that may be cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system.

Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.

Take the car for a short drive around the block and on the highway. Pay attention to anything unusual in how the vehicle is operating or any unusual noises. If you suspect a problem have it checked out.

Check all your lights including turn signal lights.

Proper prevention can save you mounds of headaches during your summer travel. The risk of safety hazards, delays, aggravation, untimely costs, and inconvenience can be reduced with a pre-trip vehicle inspection.

Does your car insurance company offer roadside assistance? This could be an invaluable service if your car needs attention while away from home.
Finally, make sure your emergency auto kit and supplies are in order. How about a tire inflator that runs off your vehicles output power supplies or what is commonly known as the ‘cigarette lighter’?

The Car Care Council has offered some gas-saving maintenance and driving tips to help you conserve fuel.

Here are some suggested ideas:

Vehicle gas caps – About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing alltogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.

Under inflated tires – When tires aren’t inflated properly it’s like driving with the parking brake on and can cost a mile or two per gallon.

Worn spark plugs – A vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs, which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced regularly.

Don’t be an aggressive driver – Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent on city streets, which results in 7 to 49 cents per gallon.

Avoid excessive idling – Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is sufficient.

Observe the speed limit – Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each mph driven over 60 will result in an additional 10 cents per gallon. To maintain a constant speed on the highway, cruise control is recommended.